Bristol schools are to receive a bumper £2.5 million in order to make their lessons and facilities more accessible for children with special needs and disabilities.

The Department for Education has announced a cash windfall for the region in order to “transform the lives” of thousands of children who require extra assistance or specialist equipment.

The additional funding could be used to pay for something as basic as building extra storage for wheelchairs, or alternatively to invest in a new specialised classroom – called sensory rooms – for pupils with learning difficulties.

Sensory Room at Bristol Children's Hospital

The money will go directly to councils, with Bristol City Council being one of the biggest beneficiaries of the £215 million funding pot put forward by DfE. Only 20 authorities, out of 150 in England, will receive more than City Hall’s £2.52 million, which will be paid in three instalments between 2018 and 2021.

South Gloucestershire Council will receive nearly £1.2 million, North Somerset Council will get £780,000 and Bath and North East Somerset Council is due to be allocated £577,000 over the same three year period.

Cllr Claire Hiscott, Bristol City Council’s cabinet member for education and skills, said there was a “pressing need” to invest in “education capital” for children special education needs and disabilities.

However, she said “far more” than £2.5 million would be needed to address the “pressures”.

Conservative Bristol City Councillor, Claire Hiscott, pictured right

“We look forward to seeing the details of this funding,” said Horfield ward representative.

“In Bristol, and nationally, there are an increasing number of pupils requiring specialist education.

“As outlined in our Integrated Education Capital Strategy, we are developing plans to make sure we are able to meet the needs of local children and families.

“Extra funding to support expanding old or building new provision will support this work, but we know that we need far more than £2.5 million to address all the pressures we face.”

Edward Timpson, minister for vulnerable children and families, said the investment was about making it easier for children with disabilities to “access good school places”.

He said: “This Government is determined to build a country that works for everyone – a country where every child has an equal opportunity to reach their full potential regardless of their background, and any‎ challenges they may face.

“Our multi-million pound investment will enable local councils to build new classrooms and improve facilities for pupils‎, ensuring that no child is left behind.”

City Hall has been allocated £2.5 million to invest in special need educational provision

The DfE said councils will be free to invest the funding as they see fit to help children and young people with education, health and care plans to get a high quality education.

Councils will be expected to consult with local parents, carers, schools, and others on how their funding should be used. They will also be required to publish a short plan showing how they will spend the funding.

The investment can used in a vast array of educational facilities, including mainstream schools, academies, free schools and grammar schools, say the Government.

Special schools, early years settings, further education colleges or other provision for children and young people aged up to 25 would be eligible to apply for the funding, said a spokesman for the department.

The spokesman gave examples for what the money could be used to buy, including:

creating a learning kitchen so that children and young people can learn to prepare food and gain skills for independent living;

constructing a new hygiene suite attached to a classroom so that children’s hygiene needs can be met without taking time away from their learning;

buying mobility equipment;

expanding a special unit attached to a good or outstanding mainstream school;

enlarging existing classrooms to increase their size for those using mobility aids,